Ever seen a disc golf with more than one stamp? That's a disc golf misprint.
Disc golf manufacturers sell them as second-grade products. These discs are generally perfectly usable. They just aren't up to consumer standards for a "new disc".
You may have one of MVP's Lab 2nds, or Innova's F2s. These are misprints.
Keep reading to learn all about misprinted discs, how they come to be, and what the pros and cons to them are.
How Disc Golf Misprints Happen
There are a ton of different things that can happen when you're making a disc golf disc. The process is complex, where the smallest of environmental inconsistencies can result in a subpar product.
If you want to see just how complex it is, watch this video from Jesse, the owner of Trash Panda. His videos give a real world look into what actually goes into making discs.
Misprints or factory seconds can be broken down into two main categories:
- Issues with the stamp
- Defects in the plastic
Stamping Misprints
Issues with that stamp are generally referred to as misprints. These issues are purely aesthetic, and have no effect on the functionality of the disc.
Sometimes a disc gets stuck or left in the stamping machine, and is stamped multiple times. Some discs end up with the wrong stamp, and others have small defects in the stamp.
Manufacturers will often add another stamp on top of these discs to mark them as misprints. For example, Innova uses an F2 stamp.
Actual defects
There are times where there are actually defects with the disc itself, and not just the stamp. These discs are more commonly referred to as factory seconds. Even then, many of these defects have little to no effect on the flight.
- Defects can include:
- Bubbles in the plastic
- An overly domed flight plate
- Unusual plastic coloring
- Dust and small pieces of dirt in the plastic
- Scratches and scuffs
- Excess flashing
- Black flecks in the plastic
Are Misprinted and Factory Second Discs usable?
In most cases the defects are purely aesthetic. The disc still flies just like it should. Even small defects in the plastic will make a minimal difference.
Rarely the problem will be enough to make a noticeable difference to how the disc flies. This isn't necessarily a bad thing! It might end up being closer to what you were looking for, or a great complement to a non-defectual version of the molds.
The Upside: Misprint Discs Are Cheaper
Here's the reason many players actually prefer buying misprints. They're cheaper! Yes, you can get discs for a decent amount less that have barely anything wrong with them.
Here are some tables breaking down how much cheaper factory second discs are from disc golf's most popular brands.
|
(Innova) Plastic |
Usual Price |
Misprint Price |
|
DX |
$12 |
$6 |
|
Star |
$19 |
$12 |
|
R-Pro |
$15 |
$8 |
|
Champion |
$18 |
$11 |
|
Gstar |
$16 |
$10 |
|
Pro |
$15 |
$9 |
Now here's Discraft's. This is a rough guide as Discraft's discounts can vary by disc, and not just plastic type.
|
(Discraft) Plastic |
Usual Price |
Misprint Price |
|
Z |
$20 |
$12 |
|
ESP |
$20 |
$12 |
|
Jawbreaker |
$15 |
$12 |
|
X |
$12 |
$8 |
MVP, yes please! Because they don't sell directly to customers, these prices are based on our website. We price MVP & Axiom as low as the manufacturer allows us to.
|
(MVP) Plastic |
Usual Price |
Misprint Price |
|
Neutron & Neutron Soft |
$19 |
$15.50 |
|
Eclipse |
$23 |
$19.50 |
|
Plasma |
$19 |
$16 |
|
Proton |
$18 |
$15 |
And here's Trilogy for good measure:
|
(Dynamic Discs) Plastic |
Usual Price |
Misprint Price |
|
Prime |
$10 |
$5 |
|
Fuzion |
$14 |
$9 |
|
Lucid |
$14 |
$9 |
|
Moonshine |
$21 |
$9.5 |
|
BioFuzion |
$16 |
$9 |
Where to Find Misprints
If you've decided misprinted discs are the way to go, you're probably wondering where you can get them. There are actually quite a few ways.
This is a good time to mention you can buy misprints from DGD right here. 😎
One great way to get MVP and Axiom misprints is to buy the Gyroplooza box. The 2024 edition had 6 Lab Second discs at unbeatable prices!
Keep an eye out for mispring mystery boxes, like Gyropalooza. These are great ways to get a bunch of misprint discs for even less. You just can't be sure what you'll get. Discraft's misprint mystery boxes are great as you can select the plastic you want. The price is phenomenal.
The Innova Factory Store runs their popular F2 Friday special. If you buy 3 or more discs on their site on a Friday, you can get an F2 disc for free! The featured F2 disc is changed every week.
Thanks for reading. 👋
Consider reading one of our other articles, instead of the long boring conclusion we just saved you from.
